Political finger pointing over the Welsh NHS must stop in the wake of the Tawel Fan scandal, Kirsty Williams has said.

The Welsh Liberal Democrat leader accused the Tories and Plaid Cymru of preferring to “continue to row” about the ongoing problems at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board rather than come up with a solution.

She has spoken as Health Minister Mark Drakeford prepares to make a statement on the scandal in the Senedd later today and after Plaid’s Anglesey AM Rhun ap Iorwerth claimed that health care in North Wales had “reached new lows”.

Published last week the independent investigation revealed patients were subject to “shocking” neglect and “appalling” mistreatment, with some being allowed to run around naked at the Bodelwyddan hospital.

Ms Williams said politicians must come together to deal with the ongoing issues in the Welsh NHS, which she described as being hit with a “perfect storm”.

Ms Williams said the Welsh Government needed to take a “long hard look” at Betsi Cadwaladr to see whether it was “fit for purpose” in its current form.

She said: “It’s clear to me that patients, patient’s representatives and the staff have got some very clear ideas about what needs to happen in the Welsh NHS to make it a better place to work and a better service for the public.

“My only regret is that Plaid politicians and Tory politicians would rather to continue to have the row about these things rather than bring their solutions to the table and listen to other people who perhaps have solutions to make things better.

“I think the finger pointing isn’t getting us anywhere there are real challenges, undoubtedly, there have been significant failings and the best way to address those is in a collaborative manner not what we have seen to date.”

But Mr ap Iorwerth said: “This isn’t about finger pointing at professional staff within the NHS but these are organisational issues, that once again we seem to be reaching new lows in North Wales and it is not acceptable.”

Last week the health board issued a public apology for the neglect and mistreatment of patients on the ward.